Electric switch



April 8, 1930. F. H. PRESCOTT 1,753,624

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 28, 1928 Esau-m Patented Apr. 8%, 1930 UNITEDA sra'rss earsnr oFFicE FRANK I-I. PRESCOTT, F ANDERSON, INDIANA,ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE ELECTRIC SXVITCH Application filed January 28, 1928. Serial No.250,126.

This invention relates to electrical switches for automobiles andparticularly to switches which are adapted to be mounted adjacent thelower end of the steering column of the automobile and to be operated bya shaft extending through the column and connected with a handleadjacent the hub of the steering wheel. 7

The present invention has been developed with the aim of simplifying theconstruction and reducing the cost of manufacture of switches of thistype.

ther aims and objects of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a steering column assembly towhich a switch embodying the present invention is attached.

Fig. 2 is a view of the switch looking in the direction of the arrow 2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the switch taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3. i

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views, respectively, on the lines 5-5 and6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, designates the mast of the steering columnwhich is supported by the steering gear housing 21 and which provides abearing for a steering tube 22 attached to a steering wheel 23. The tube22 encloses a plurality of concentric tubes, the innermost of which isdesignated by numeral 24. The tube 24 is connected with a lever 25located adjacent the hub of the steering wheel 23, and extends throughthe steering column and is connected at its lower end with a switch 25which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

The switch 25 comprises a cup-shaped case having a flat end wall 31 anda cylindrical side wall 32 and having a flange 33. The flange isprovided with tapped holes 34 for receiving screws 35 by which anon-conducting cover plate 36 is attached to the case 30.

The plate 36 carries stationary swit h conswitch case.

tact-s 37 which are arranged in a circular row and are electricallyconnected with various terminal brackets 38 respectively.

The stationary contacts 37 are formed by the heads of rivets 39 whichsecure the terminal brackets 38 to the plate 36. These contacts areadapted to be engaged by certain of a plurality of movable contactsformed by providing a somewhat triangular shaped plate 41 with sphericalbosses 40. The plate 41 is supported by and is driven by a nonconductingdisc 42 or contact carrier which is provided with a central openingincluding notches 43 for receiving tangs 44 respectively provided by thecontact plate 41. A spring 45 bears at one end against the disc 42 andat the other against a detent plate 46 and thus tends to separate theparts 42 and 46 and urges the contact bosses 40 into engagement with theplate 36 or the stationary contact and urges the spherical bosses 47provided by the plate 46'toward the end wall 31 of the The end wall 31is provided with holes 48 arranged in a circular row and each adapted toreceive one of the spherical bosses 47 The contact carrying disc 42 isdrivingly connected with the detent plate46 by providing the latter withtangs 49 which are received by notches 50 provided by the contactcarrier 42.

Both the contact carrier 42 and the detent plate 46 are driven throughthe tangs 49 by a disc 51 having notches 52 for receiving the tangs 49and provided with a central opening 53 for receiving the shaft 24 andprovided with a key 54 which is received by suitable longitudinalgrooves in the tube 24. I

The spring 45 performs the dual function of maintaining the movablecontacts into engagement with the stationary contacts and maintainingthe detent bosses 47 in engage ment with the holes 48 of the plate 41 sothat the movable contact will be yieldingly retained in variousoperating positions into which it is moved by the lever 25.

Motion of the movable contact is limited by providing the plate 46 withan arcuate notch 55 which receives a lug 56 integral with the case wall31. The parts 57 and 58 defining the 11011011 5 serve as stops e gageale with the lug 56 in order to limit movement of the plate 46 in eitherdirection.

The switch case is fixed to the lower end of the steering gear case 21by a mounting plate 60 attached to the switch case 30 and having a slot61 for receiving the threaded end 62 of a stud 63 attached to thesteering gear case 21. A nut 64 cooperates with stud end 62 to clamp theplate 60 to the stud 63. The slot 61 permits adjusting the case 30angularly relative to the shaft 24: so that the switch may be locatedproperly with respect to the switch operating handle 25.

The present invention provides for constructing a switch withoutrequiring a fine degree of accuracy, for example, the switch case wall31 need not be exactly parallel to eccentric to the cylindrical wall 82-of the switch. case, the switch may be successfully operated since thereis. sufiicient clearance between the case wall 32 and; the carrier 42and the detent plate 46, to permit lateral movement oft-these partsrelative to theswitch case.

While the formof embodiment of the present invention, as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is tobe understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

that is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising a rotatable contact carrier, a detentplate rotatable coaxially with. the carrier, driving connections betweentheplate and carrier and permitting relative axialmovement between theplate and carrier, a driving member connected with the carrierand. platethrough said driving connections between them, a case enclosing thecarrier, plate and member, stationary contacts carried by a wall of thecase, a movable contact attachedto the carrier and engageable with thestationary contacts, means for urging the movable contact against the 1means provided by the-case and detentplate.

2. An-electric switch accord-in toclaim- 1 in which the drivingconnectionsiietween the cont-act carrierand detent plate-are providedbytangs extending from; one part' and: res cei-ved bynotches in theother part.

plate and carrier, a case enclosing the carrier and plate, and providingstationary contacts in a wall thereof, a movable contact attached to thecarrier and engageable with the stationary contacts, means for urgingthe movable contact against the stationary contacts and for urging thedetent plate toward an- Other wall of the case.

6. An electric switch comprising a rotatable contact carrier, a detentplate rotatable coaxially with the carrier, driving connections betweenthe plate and carrier and permitting relative axial movement between theplate and carrier, a case enclosing the carrier and plate, and providingstationary contacts.

in a wall thereof, a movable contact attached to the carrier andengageable with the stationary contacts, means disposed between thecarrier and plate for urging the movable contact against the stationarycontacts, and

for urging the detent plate toward another wall of the case.

7. An electric-switch comprising a rotatable contact carrier, a detentplate rotatable coaxially with the carrier, driving connections. betweenthe plate and carrier and per- 1::

mitting relative-axial movement between the plate and carrier, a drivingmember connected with the carrier and plate through said drivingconnections. between them, a

case enclosing-the carrier, plate and member,

stationary contacts carried by a wall of the case, means for urging thecontact carrier against the stationary contacts and the detent platetoward another wall ofthe case.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

FRANK H. PRESCOTT.

